Category: Resources

Like many services and industries, tutoring is moving more online as people become more comfortable and familiar with digital communication and are able to appreciate the accessibility and selection of online tutoring. One result of this is that the online tutoring industry has exploded, to the point where the sheer proliferation of services can be overwhelming.

That’s why I’m so glad that our friends at Reviews.com have created a guide to the best online tutoring services of 2018. They have thoroughly researched the top platforms and written up a detailed report with their findings, but that’s just the start. Their report goes on to explain what students should know before enrolling in online tutoring, the best practices for ensuring a positive tutoring experience, and much more. The whole thing is chock full of incredibly valuable information and actionable tips for students and their families who are seeking help through online tutoring, and the best part is, it’s absolutely FREE!

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With the rising costs of college education, scholarships are more important than ever for students and families who want to maximize the value they receive while minimizing their costs. But there are so many scholarship options that the task of finding and applying for the best ones can be a daunting hurdle. Of course, the solution is to use a scholarship search platform to help cut through the clutter. The only problem with that is that scholarship search platforms themselves have proliferated as well, to the point where it’s hard to even make a decision about which platform to use!

That’s why I’m so glad that our friends at Reviews.com have created a guide to the best scholarship search platforms of 2018. They have thoroughly researched the top platforms and written up a detailed report with their findings, but that’s just the start. Their report goes on to explain what students need to know before they apply for a scholarship, a step by step guide on how to apply, and more. The whole thing is chock full of incredibly valuable information and actionable tips for college bound students and their families, and the best part is, it’s absolutely FREE!

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One reason parents often feel intimidated by the idea of homeschooling is that they think they have to go it alone and don’t know where to start. The reality is that homeschooling is an exploding industry, and there is a huge variety of products, services, and organizations dedicated to meeting the diverse needs of the homeschooling community. Whether you are brand new to homeschooling or have years of experience, whether you want to be more hands-on or hands-off, there are people and resources that can help you find your niche.

One such list of resources is compiled by the microtutoring site Studypool. In addition to their primary mission of helping to link up struggling students with tutors ready to help them on-demand, they’ve done a fantastic job of pulling together a wide variety of accredited homeschooling programs complete with location and enrollment requirements: https://www.studypool.com/guide/home-schooling-services

All kids, including yours, learn much more from inspiring examples than they do from lectures, and that’s why it’s important that you show them the importance of living life on your own terms. That’s why I always tell parents, if homeschooling is your dream, go for it!

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Learning Pathways is a Colorado-based educational intervention service that specializes in curing dyslexia. Their approach uses multi-sensory exercises based on the most modern research into neuroplasticity to develop fundamental cognitive abilities. While it was long thought that brain cells cannot be replaced, we now know that not only are neurons capable of forming new connections, new neurons can actually be created in the brain. This makes the concept of so-called learning disabilities like dyslexia and ADHD as being “hardwired” into the brain obsolete, and Learning Pathways’ success record of curing dyslexia proves it.

I have long observed that whenever we believe something is unchangeable, such as being “hardwired” or due to an innate “chemical imbalance”, we stop looking for answers. Instead of continuing to look for ways to solve the problem, we settle for finding ways to manage it. This obviously prevents us from finding whatever solutions might exist. In my opinion it is better to look for a solution when none exists than to give up on finding a solution when one does exist. That’s why I admire the customized, evidence-based approach Learning Pathways takes to helping students transform their conceptions of what is possible for them.

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While browsing on Youtube I came across a great series of videos called “60 Second Adventures…“. These are fascinating animated short films covering topics in math, physics, astronomy, economics, and philosophy. This was how I discovered OpenLearn, an open university project that provides free resources for independent learners, including videos and thousands of hours of course materials, as well as programs to earn qualifications in a variety of subjects. Whether you want to devote yourself to some serious study or just go on a whimsical intellectual adventure, you should check out this awesome educational resource. Why watch TV when you could actually be learning something about the world? Go there now!

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Benchprep is a comprehensive online test prep resource, providing reading and review materials, practice problems, and entire practice tests for dozens of standardized exams. Whatever standardized exam you are preparing for, they probably have it, from AP exams, college and graduate school admission exams, and licensing and civil service exams to prep courses on college subjects. A monthly or lifetime subscription gets you access to your preparation materials on the web or on your smartphone so you can study any time, anywhere. They also have a blog with dozens of helpful, informative articles. If you have any standardized exams in your future, or want extra supplementary resources for your college courses, Benchprep is a valuable resource.

“Family homework provides real life situations for students to apply concepts and skills they are learning at school. These types of assignments are designed to be integrated into a family’s weekly routine. It involves parents in their children’s education. Create a monthly calendar of family homework assignments that connect to current class curriculum.”

The authors discuss this idea, along with how teachers can continually improve their teaching methods, in a post on their blog:

I believe education is a process that should bring families together rather than pull them apart. Family homework is a great way for parents to enjoy quality time with their children while learning along with them!